Seanad debates

Thursday, 24 March 2011

10:30 am

Photo of Dan BoyleDan Boyle (Green Party)

I congratulate Senator Cummins on his elevation to the position of Leader of the House and wish him well. He can be assured of my party's co-operation in the time available to us. I seek mutual co-operation along the lines I hope I offered when Deputy Leader of the House. In that spirit, I propose an amendment to the Order of Business that after No. 1, 30 minutes be provided to complete Committee and Remaining Stages of the Mental Health (Involuntary Procedures) (Amendment) Bill 2008, on which much progress was made yesterday and to which there are four amendments, three of which have been discussed and the fourth is not contentious. A series of votes would complete discussion of the Bill. I would be grateful if the Leader, with the co-operation of the Minister and the Department, could achieve this end and finish the process.

I support Senator O'Toole's call for a debate on the Moriarty tribunal report, not for the narrow party political reasons that might accompany such a debate but to address the serious issues involved in the relationship between the media, business and politics in general, which will inform aspects of the programme for Government we discussed yesterday. Before it finishes its term, this House should have an opportunity to do this, especially in the light of the decision of the Taoiseach to refer the report to the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Garda. As it was the creation of the Oireachtas, as a House of the Oireachtas, we should have an opportunity to discuss the tribunal's report at an early date.

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